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Which Miami Dolphins are now squarely on roster bubble?

Miami Dolphins running back Storm Johnson returns a kickoff. Will Miami keep Johnson as a fourth running back? Jobs are on the line in the final preseason game. (Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post)

The Miami Dolphins are going to play a preseason game at the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night in which nobody who is projected to start should be expected to play.

But for more than 20 of the players who will suit up for the Dolphins, there is great uncertainty. They’re not sure if they’ve essentially made the 53-man roster or if they’re playing for their NFL lives.

The Dolphins will trim their roster from 90 players to 53 over the weekend following the game, a dramatic, drastic cut which will surely reveal a few surprises. Sometimes a team will choose a less expensive, younger player over a veteran. Sometimes a player will protect a player only because it believes it would lose him in waivers.

Sometimes a veteran will be left off because the team believes he is likely to clear waivers, and the team could bring him back after the first game, which will allow for the contract not to be fully guaranteed for the season.

Coach Adam Gase could always choose to keep one extra player at a position in which he hadn’t intended to. Or he could choose to go one player short at a position he hadn’t intended to.

NFL rosters, especially the back end of NFL rosters are very, very fluid.

However, here is a look at the players who may very well be fighting for one of the 53 roster spots on Thursday. These are the guys worth paying the closest attention to:

• Quarterback (none). It seems likely the Dolphins would keep two quarterbacks and then perhaps figure out which quarterback is best for the practice squad.

• Running back (2 for 1 spot). Storm Johnson or Senorise Perry. Perhaps Perry is a bit quicker and Johnson has a both more power. Both players are capable kickoff returners, too. De’Veon Smith would be an excellent potential addition to the practice squad.

• Wide receiver (3 for 1 spot). Damore’ea Stringfellow or Rashad Lawrence or Drew Morgan. Stringfellow has a 99-yard touchdown catch. Morgan has one catch after slowing down since organized team activities. Morgan is the only one in the group who has returned a kickoff or punt. Overall special teams value is always going to be the most critical factor in a sixth receiver. Miami could free a spot elsewhere by keeping only five receivers.

• Tight end (none). Miami seems set with three.

• Offensive line (3 for 2 spots). Isaac Asiata or Jake Brendel or Eric Smith. Last year, the Dolphins kept nine offensive lineman, though they could keep 10. Projected starting guard Ted Larsen is going to begin the season on injured reserve. Projected second-string guard/center Kraig Urbik, due to injury, will not be on the initial roster. If exposed to waivers, rookie Asiata has the potential to be claimed. But right now, he may be Miami’s fifth guard. Brendel is capable of playing center and guard. Smith showed some potential at tackle. All of these players are a bit more vulnerable because of the emergence of Jesse Davis, who can play guard and tackle. Versatility is always going to a be a key at the bottom of the offensive line depth chart.

• Defensive end (3 for 1 spot). Praise Martin-Oguike or Terrence Fede or Julius Warmsley. The undrafted rookie Martin-Oguike has had some really good moments. Fede is likely the favorite here as has been a regular on multiple special teams, which is always going to be a critical factor as the final few cuts are made. Warmsley has not stood out as often as he did in the preseason last year, when he made the initial roster.

• Defensive tackle (2 for 1 spot). Vincent Taylor or Nick Williams. It is possible the Dolphins keep both of these players on the roster, if they go one fewer at another position. But usually that would be a decision made on special teams value. Williams is a veteran capable of playing inside and outside. Taylor is a late-round draft choice who has flashed at times. This is a really fascinating one to watch. Would Taylor make it through waivers for a practice squad spot? Perhaps not. For that reason, for now, we’ll say the youngster had an edge.

• Linebacker (2 for 1 spot). Trevor Reilly or Deon Lacy. Reilly has the reputation as an excellent special teamer. Lacy is the former CFL standout. Which player does Darren Rizzi trust on special teams?

• Cornerback (3 for 1 spot). Walt Aikens or Lafayette Pitts or Torry McTyer. Aikens can be declared a safety/cornerback and because of his proven skill on special teams, it would seem he’d have an edge. But Pitts is a true corner and is also strong on special teams. It’s possible both make it, but not a lock. If not on the roster, McTyer would be the perfect practice squad developmental player after a strong camp.

• Safety (3 for 1 spot). Jordan Lucas or A.J. Hendy or Maurice Smith. It’s possible none of these three make the team if Miami keeps both Aikens and Pitts. Smith, like McTyer, would be an excellent addition to Miami’s practice squad if he does not make the initial roster.

• Special Teams (4 for 2 spots). John Denney or Winston Chapman; Matt Darr or Matt Haack. One would think the Dolphins will stick with the trusted veteran Denney at snapper. Darr seems to be facing a legitimate punting competition from Haack, the undrafted rookie.